The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee

Drexel University’s production of William Finn’s popular musical The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee is a likely candidate for the holiday season’s sleeper hit. Charming without being overly sentimental, Finn’s insightful and humorous score captures the determination and courage of the Spelling Bee’s awkward pre-pubescent competitors, and the outrageous behavior of the infantile adult judges who are forced to come to terms with the tragic realization that their best years are behind them. Director Bill Fennelly (who previously served as the resident director for the national tour of The Lion King) says the production benefits from having a relatively young cast. Whereas professional productions often cast adult actors in the show’s major roles, Fennelly feels that the Drexel cast’s youth is a big advantage both in terms of portraying the adolescent “spellers” and giving the production the sense of exuberance and optimism that Finn intends. -J.C.R.